Adjustable line jig for laying brick and concrete block walls



Nov.24,l953

F. w. PATZEL ADJUSTABLE LINE JIG FOR LAYING BRICK AND CONCRETE BLOCKWALLS Filed April 6, 1951 IN VEN TOR.

Patented Nov. 24, 1953 ADJUSTABLE LINE JIG FOR LAYING BRICK AND CONCRETEBLOCK WALLS Fred W. Patzel, Lincoln, Nebr. Application April 6, 1951,Serial No. 219,607

2 Claims. (01. 33-86) This invention relates to masons implements, andmore particularly, to an improved jig for holding a masons line asemployed by bricklayers and other mechanics in laying brick or concreteblock walls.

A main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved masonsline jig which is simple in construction, which is easy to use, andwhich provides uniform spacing between the line and the wall with whichit is used.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved line jig foruse in laying brick or concrete walls, said jig being inexpensive tomanufacture, involving simple parts, being easy to adjust in accordancewith difierent sizes of blocks employed for walls, and providing asecure and accurate holding means for the masons line.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparentfrom the following description and claims, and from the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a block wall on which isengaged an improved masons line jig according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the line jig of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

In the laying of brick or concrete block walls by a mason, it isnecessary for him to lay what is known to the trade as a corner leadfrom the two corners of the wall, which is done by a line jig. Fromthese corner leads a line is stretched to guide the mason in laying astraight wall. The line jig customarily used is a straight spike or pinwhich is driven into the mortar between the corner blocks. If the lineis drawn too tight, the mortar will break and cause the line to sag,which makes it difficult to lay a straight wall. Also, in order to lay astraight wall, it is desirable to provide a small space between the lineand the wall. With the pin or spike driven into the mortar, it isdifficult to have uniform spacing between the line and the wall alongthe length of the line.

The adjustable line jig of the present invention may be used when layingthe wall either from the outside or the inside. The jig is adjustable toany size of wall.

Referring to the drawings, the improved line jig is designated generallyas H and comprises an elongated main body I 2, which may be a metal bar'formed adjacent one end with a downwardly offset portion l3 and with adepending arm I extending at right angles to the oifset portion I3, asshown in Figure 3. The corner defined by portion l3 and arm I4 is formedwith an outwardly extending, upwardly inclined lug I5 of substantiallength which is employed for securing the end of the masons line, asshown in Figure 1. The end of arm M is formed with a flange l6 extendingat right angles to the main portion of arm l4 and extending parallel tothe portion l3 of main body I2.

Designated at I! is a right-angled plate member having a body portion l8and an arm l9 extending at right angles thereto. The main body I2 isformed with uniformly spaced holes 20 and the element |8 of plate I! isformed with threaded openings 2|, 2| spaced apart the same distance asthe openings 20. Designated at 22, 22 are respective studs which arethreadedly engageable in the openings 2|, 2| and which are adapted toextend through a selected pair of openings 20 of the body l2 and areprovided with respective wing nuts 23, 23 for clamping the plate memberI! to main body |2 in the manner shown in Figure 3.

In using the jig, the plate member I8 is secured to the main body |2 inan adjusted position, wherein the block of the wall being laid shown at24, may be received between the arm I9 and the edge of flange l6, asshown in Figure 1. The jig device is engaged over the block in themanner shown in Figure 1, with the lug l5 projecting upwardly andoutwardly. The line, shown at 25, is tied to the lug l5 and engagedbeneath the corner defined between element I3 and arm I 4, said cornerbeing formed at its inner side with a groove 26 in which line 24 isreceivable. A similar jig is employed at the opposite corner of the wallor at a substantial distance from the first jig, whereby the line 25 isstretched between the two jigs. The tension of the line 25 exerts atorque on the jigs which causes the jigs to rotate slightly and tobecome anchored to the blocks on which they are engaged, whereby thejigs are held firmly in place. The flange l6 on each jig providesuniform spacing of the respective arms I 4 of the jigs, and alsoprovides uniform spacing of the line 25 from the wall at all pointsalong the line. As each row of blocks is laid, the

jig devices may be readily moved onto the blocks of the next row.

While a specific embodiment of an improved masons line jig has beendisclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood thatvarious modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur tothose skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that no limitationsbe placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of theappended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A masons line jig comprising an elongated flat main body, a firstarmcoextensive in width with said main body projecting from one end ofsaid main body at right angles thereto, a lug element projectingobliquely outwardly from said end of the main bodyoppositesaid'arm'and'coextensive in width therewith, a second armprojecting from the intermediate portion of said main body parallel toand substantially equalin width" to said first arm, and an inwardlyprojecting rectangular flange on the end of and equal in width to saidfirst arm and projecting parallel to said main body toward said secondarm.

I 2. A-masons line jig comprising an elongated flat body, a first armcoextensive in width with said main body projecting from one end of saidmain body at right angles thereto, a lug element projecting obliquelyoutwardly from said end of said main body opposite said arm andcoextensive in width therewith, a second arm adjustably secured to theintermediate portion of said main body, said second arm beingsubstantially equal in width to and projecting from the intermediateportion of said main body parallel to said first arm, and an inwardlyprojecting rectangular flange on the end of and equal in width to saidfirst arm projecting parallel to said main body toward said second arm,said first arm being formed at its inner surface adjacent the main bodywith a transverse groove adapted to receive a masons line secured tosaid lug element.

FRED W. PATZEL.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 492,636 Snyder Feb. 28, 1893 2,215,663 Frisk Sept. 24, 19402,261,503 Morris Nov. 4, 1941 2,492,044 Hulquist Dec. 20, 1949 2,508,076Palmer May 16, 1950 2,530,121 Garwood Nov. 14, 1950

